Over 2.27 Million Students Affected as Government Orders Re-Examination
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following serious allegations of a large-scale paper leak that has triggered nationwide outrage among students, parents, and coaching institutes. More than 2.27 million candidates had appeared for the medical entrance examination conducted on May 3 across the country.
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The central government has now handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has already registered an FIR in the matter. The NTA stated that the decision to cancel the examination was taken after approval from the Government of India, adding that fresh dates for the re-examination will be announced later.
Handwritten ‘Question Bank’ at Centre of Controversy
The controversy intensified after reports surfaced that a handwritten “question bank” containing over 300 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology had been circulated among students before the exam. Investigators claim that nearly 150 of those questions appeared in the actual NEET paper, raising serious concerns over the integrity of the examination process.
According to preliminary findings, the alleged leak trail began in Kerala, where a student studying MBBS reportedly shared the handwritten material with a friend in Rajasthan’s Sikar district on May 1. The material was then allegedly circulated through a private hostel operator and eventually spread among students, coaching networks, and career counsellors through WhatsApp and other channels.
Authorities said the handwritten notes appeared to be prepared by a single person, as all pages carried similar handwriting patterns. Experts noted that while some overlap between study material and exam papers is common, the appearance of such a high number of matching questions is highly unusual.
Timeline of the Alleged Leak
The issue first came to light on May 3, shortly after the examination concluded, when a hostel operator in Sikar informed local police and the NTA about the suspicious “question bank.”
In the following days, discussions surrounding the leaked material spread rapidly online as answer keys and exam analysis began circulating among students and coaching institutes.
The NTA confirmed that it officially received inputs regarding irregularities on May 7 from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. A day later, the agency transferred the matter to central investigation agencies.
Arrests Made, Probe Expands Across States
Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) launched a separate probe and has arrested multiple suspects from Sikar and nearby areas. Investigators are also examining links extending to Maharashtra, where a suspect was detained in Nashik.
Sources claim the individual was pursuing BAMS studies and allegedly operated a medical counselling agency. Officials believe the network may have spread across several states, including Kerala, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
Political Reactions Intensify
The cancellation has sparked sharp political reactions across the country. Opposition leaders accused the government of failing to protect the future of lakhs of students. Several education experts and medical associations also questioned the credibility of the current examination system.
ALLEN Career Institute CEO Nitin Kukreja suggested that NEET should shift to a computer-based testing model similar to JEE examinations to reduce the possibility of leaks and improve transparency.
The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) demanded accountability and called for a time-bound investigation into the matter.
NEET Faces Scrutiny for Second Consecutive Year
This is not the first controversy surrounding NEET. In 2024, allegations of paper leaks and irregularities had also surfaced, leading to investigations in Bihar and Jharkhand. Although the Supreme Court had refused to cancel the entire examination that year, selected candidates were asked to reappear for the test at certain centres.
India’s Largest Medical Entrance Exam
NEET remains India’s largest medical entrance examination and serves as the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, nursing, and other medical courses across government and private institutions, including prestigious institutes such as AIIMS and JIPMER.
More than one lakh MBBS seats and around 27,000 BDS seats are filled through the examination every year.
Students Await Fresh Exam Dates
With the examination now cancelled, uncertainty looms over millions of aspirants awaiting clarity on the revised schedule and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
